With a exceptional strike from their deadly quantity 9, Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona achieved their fiftieth level of the season and asserted their superiority within the second half of the La Liga.
Lewandowski ended his scoring drought within the league to assist Barcelona defeat Real Betis 2-1 and enhance its lead over Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Lewandowski sealed Barcelona’s sixth straight victory in all competitions together with his first league aim since October. He is the league’s main scorer with 14 objectives. The Poland striker was making his return from a three-game suspension for disrespecting a referee in a match final yr.
Raphinha opened the scoring for Barcelona, which now’s eight factors in entrance of second-place Madrid forward of the rival’s dwelling match towards Valencia on Thursday.
“We played a great match,” Barcelona coach Xavi said. “We are glad with the outcome and with how we performed. We performed nicely towards staff in a tricky stadium.”
Barcelona received the league 4 occasions after reaching 50 factors or extra by 19 rounds. It solely did not carry the trophy in that scenario in 2013-14.
“We are going through a good moment,” Raphinha said. “The factors are a results of our effort. We stay assured for the remainder of the season.”
Both midweek video games involving Barcelona and Madrid have been postponed from January due to the groups’ participation within the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Barcelona defeated Betis in a penalty shootout within the semifinals earlier than ultimately profitable the ultimate towards Madrid. Madrid performed Valencia within the different semifinal, additionally advancing in a shootout.
It was Betis’ sixth straight league loss at dwelling towards Barcelona, which has received eight straight if counting the shootout win over Betis within the Super Cup.
Betis stayed in sixth place within the league, 19 factors behind Barcelona. It is three factors behind fourth-place Atletico Madrid within the remaining Champions League place. Manuel Pellegrini’s staff has received one in every of its final 5 video games in all competitions.
Raphinha put Barcelona forward with a contact from shut vary after a left-flank low cross by Alejandro Balde within the sixty fifth minute. Lewandowski added to the lead with a shot from inside the realm within the eightieth, and Betis obtained on the board with an own-goal by Barcelona defender Jules Kounde within the eighty fifth.
Lewandowski has 5 objectives in his final 5 matches in all tournaments.
The win got here after Barcelona closed the winter switch window with none signings to spice up its squad. It noticed ahead Memphis Depay transfer to Atletico and Hector Bellerin be a part of Sporting Lisbon. Veteran defender Gerard Pique retired.
Betis misplaced defender Álex Moreno to Arsenal and ahead Loren Morón to Las Palmas, however it signed former Leicester ahead Ayoze Perez.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
